Rehabilitation for The Visually Impaired in Taiwan

It is rainy season in Taiwan. The raindrops fall all the time. However, for the visually impaired people, when they walk with the white canes on the roads, they feel cheerful because they are on the roads toward TDTB.

The services offered by TDTB are designed to improve quality of life for visually impaired people through the development and enhancement of their skills and capabilities. All workers in TDTB assist them in access to services and training.

TDTB has set up for 15 years. After reviewing the services of these years, we published a report called "Retrospect and Prospect" in April. With the report, readers can understand what TDTB has done in the past 15 years.

We appreciate all the supports and encouragements, which make all these services in TDTB keep going and bring the sunshine to these visually impaired people and their family members. Here are the services and activities in TDTB from Mid- Feb. to Mid-May in 2019:

1. Computer Courses:

(1) In March and April 2019, TDTB offered Level C courses for computer software application to improve the skills of visually impaired people. The courses include Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and File Management with the screen reader of NVDA. The students participated these courses could familiarize the types of questions by practicing exams. After taking the courses, they had competitive computer skills and became more confident.

(2) In addition, TDTB offered “Internet Explore for a Better Life” computer courses. The courses introduced the basic computer skills of booking tickets or making an online reservations with NVDA to visually impaired people. After taking the courses, the students could access information from the website easily.  

2. Case management: Two direct service projects for people acquired blindness and their families are taken by social workers this year. The services include computer training, psychological consultation, peer support group and life experiences sharing. 16 clients have received 100 hours of the computer courses and other services. They have learned how to send an email with NVDA, how to use iPhone and LINE to communicate with their acquaintances. With these assistive technology, visually impaired people can live more independently.

3. Outdoor Activity: We organized one outdoor activity in March 2019, and invited more than 30 visually impaired people and volunteers to visit Taipei Fine Arts Museum. All participants explored the modern art by museum audio guide and they were encouraged to know few of works by the sense of touch. The activity allowed them to develop cultural and aesthetic sense.

4. Rehab Life Sharing Gathering: During the period of time, we held a rehab life sharing gathering. In March, we invited a young music teacher as the lecturer. After a car accident, she had vision impaired unfortunately. She shared her experiences on overcoming the difficulties by the supports of her family and friends. The warm power led her still kept chasing dream ofbring the love and hope in music to more and more students. All participants were moved by listening to her story and violin performance deeply.

5. Recording of Digital Talking Books: TDTB undertook a project from The Ministry of Health and Welfare. It is about recording the digital talking books of “Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child’’ in Chinese and in English. We have completed the recording books and sent all the finished digital talking books (1,000 copies) to the universities, libraries and all government agencies in Taiwan.

We appreciate that your understandings of vision of TDTB and give us the strengths all the time. We are looking forward to keep the passion for the visually impaired people and make them smile in every day.

 This year we celebrate that TDTB has established 15^th anniversary. Reviewing on these years, we helped over 500 visually impaired people to face their dilemma and how to rehab their lives including computer training with NVDA, mental counseling, life sharing on overcoming visual disabilities, etc. In addition, we have assisted over 50 visually impaired people to get jobs.  We are glad to see the changes our clients have made because of our services.

We are now celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year, we would like to say “Kung Hei Fat Choi” and to express our appreciation to all people who supported TDTB in the past 15 years.

From mid November 2018 to the end of January this year, major activities/events in this Association are listed as followed: 

1. Promotion of Web Accessibility: From October 2018 to November 2018, TDTB dedicated itself into promoting web accessibility for visually impaired people.  We have traveled to eight universities around Taiwan to deliver lectures on this issue.  Then we held an award ceremony in December 16, 2018 to inspire more attention on accessibility among VIPs as well as ordinary people. 
2. Computer Courses: In January 2019, TDTB has offered math group courses for Visually impaired students.  In these courses, we discussed with visually impaired students how to learn mathematics with NVDA screen reader.  We introduced the NVDA to visually impaired students how to type mathematical symbols and how to read them.  At the same time we try to use youtube live broadcast for the people couldn’t come so that more people can learn online together. More than 20 participants benefited from these courses.
3. Financial Investment Lecture: In addition to offer computer courses to visually impaired people to improve their work skills and increasing employment opportunities, TDTB also noted that visually impaired friends need investment and financial management.  We were very honored to invite the managers of FundRich Securities Co. Ltd. to hold a seminar, shared and discussed with visually impaired friends, and to introduce the development trend of fund platforms and financial technologies.
4. Mental Health Activity: During this period of time, we organized one outdoor activity in January 2019, and invited more than 30 visually impaired people and volunteers to explore an artistic site in Taipei City.  All people participated the activity were impressed and learned many traditional puppets and their history.

Links:

• Official website of the Taiwan Digital Talking Book Association